I’m trying to carve out a little time for quiet reflection before the year ends and my best thinking is often done while hovering over a pot or pan or mixing bowl. Maybe that’s true for you, too, so I figured I’d squeeze in one last meal plan for the year. The emphasis is cozy with a few recipes for New Year’s Eve.
Mussels in White Wine & Garlic
A big pan of garlicky mussels and a good baguette for sopping up all the juices always feels like a celebration at the table to me. Consider this for a cozy night in or a New Year’s Eve get together.
Instant Pot Farro Risotto with Mushrooms and Pecans
This nourishing supper happens to be vegetarian, but you won’t miss the meat. You can up the fancy-factor by using wild mushrooms in place of some or all of the creminis. Make it in the Instant Pot if you have one or on the stove top if you don’t (instructions are in the headnote of the recipe).
Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Vegetables
This is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes on the blog. It’s a true testament to the comfort food I was raised on. It’s hearty and soul satisfying. The slow cooker does a terrific job with pot roast, but you can also roast it in the oven (instructions for that are in the recipe headnote).
Cheesy Baked Pumpkin Pasta with Kale and Bacon
This has all the elements of comfort food — starch, cheese, warmth, deliciousness. But it also happens to pack in six cups of vegetables and is so seasonal, now is the time to make it. It’s filling enough to be a one-dish supper, but make a bright salad of butter lettuce with this vinaigrette and maybe some fall fruits if you have the energy (and ingredients).
Coconut Lime Chickpea Curry
This is everything you want in a satisfying stew: filling, flavorful, and nourishing. Chickpeas do double duty in this dish by serving as its foundation as well as a crispy topping to scatter on at the very finish.
10 Easy Appetizers
If you want to crank out a few nibbles to go with that bottle of bubbly on New Year’s Eve, this is a good place to look. You might also like these Parmesan Seed Crackers or these Anchovy Toasts with Calabrian Chili Butter.
Almost Flourless French Chocolate Cake
Something delicious and decadent feels like the right way to ring in the New Year and this truly simple French Chocolate Cake is a winner. Add a spoonful of crème frâiche whipped cream and dessert is done.
Shopping List
Mussels in White Wine & Garlic
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion
2 large cloves garlic
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 pounds fresh mussels
1 tablespoon butter
Grilled bread for serving
1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)
Instant Pot Farro Risotto
1 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion
3/4 pound cremini or white mushrooms
½ cup dry white wine (substitute low-sodium vegetable broth, if preferred)
2 sprigs thyme
1 ½ cups farro
3 to 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Vegetables
One 2 1/2 pound grass-fed chuck roast
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 large yellow onion
1 cup red wine
4 cloves garlic
1 cup beef broth
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 pound small, waxy potatoes (red skin, white or Yukon Gold)
4 large carrots
6 large sprigs fresh thyme
Coconut Lime Chickpea Curry
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion
2 large cloves garlic
One 2-inch piece fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Two 15-ounce cans chickpeas
Two 13.5-ounce cans organic light coconut milk
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 bunch kale
2 tablespoons lime juice
To garnish: 3/4 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup torn mint leaves, 1 cup crispy/crunchy salted chickpeas
Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta with Kale and Bacon
4 slices bacon (optional if you prefer a vegetarian version of the dish)
16 ounces penne pasta (use whole-grain and/or gluten-free as desired)
1 bunch kale
One 15-ounce can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 ¾ cup lowfat milk
1 cup lowfat cottage cheese
3 dashes nutmeg
2 ½ cups coarsely grated, lightly packed Gruyere cheese (about 4 ounces)
Almost Flourless French Chocolate Cake
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate
14 tablespoons salted butter
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Confectioners’ sugar
Softly whipped cream and/or crème fraîche (optional)
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